Gandhi’s Top Ten Fundamentals for Changing the World

While visiting Tumblr this morning, I found the beautiful graphic that you see above. Credit for the graphic goes to the talented, Francesca. I was inspired to share it along with my interpretation of each piece of wisdom.

1. Change yourself.
You don’t have to go far to hear people complaining. You’ll hear them in the coffee shop, in line at the post office, at the office, and just about anywhere else you go. They say things like: “If I were in control…” “If I had the money to…” “If I had the time I would…” What these people don’t know is that they already have all of the tools that they need to create the change that they want to see. Gandhi tells us to be the change we wish to see in the world and it really is that simple.

Rather than complaining your life away, start to be the change. If you want to see more kindness in the world, show more kindness. If you want to see more generosity in the world, be more generous. If you want to see more beauty in the world, create more beauty. Change yourself and so change the world around you.

2. You are in control.
The reason that you don’t take action, create positive change, and lead the life of your dreams is because you feel like you are not in control. You feel like you don’t have enough money, or enough talent, or enough faith. But you so! You are in control. The only things that are stopping you are your own self-limiting beliefs.

Instead of telling yourself that you can’t, tell yourself that you can. Remember the young girl who was blind, deaf, and barely able to speak. She told herself that she could and then grew up to understand French, German, Greek, and Latin; went to Harvard; wrote a book that was translated into twenty-five languages; met every President in her lifetime; and was awarded the highest civilian honor—the Presidential Medal of Freedom! (Her name was Helen Keller, by the way.)

3. Forgive and let go.
Whatever pain you are holding onto, let it go. If someone has wronged you, forgive him. If you have failed, forgive yourself. Nothing is so important. You do not need to hold onto pain. Its toxic poison will ruin you and break your spirit. Let it go. Forgiveness will set you free.

Gandhi says that forgiveness is choosing to love. When you choose love, you heal your own heart.

4. Take care of this moment.
Living in the past causes depression. Living in the future causes anxiety. The only thing that matters is this moment. If you do what is right in this moment then the past will not matter and the future will be good. Do not waste time thinking of the past or the future. Do not use up your precious, present moments. Be here now. Harness the power of now and be fully present in each moment.

5. Without action you aren’t going anywhere.
When you really want something the whole universe conspires to make it happen; but remember that it still takes work on your part. Dreaming and positive thinking are incredibly powerful tools, but they are not enough on their own. If you want to create the life if your dreams, you must take action. Here are a few things you can do to get on the path toward action: Use visualization to set & accomplish your goals. Get rid of the negatives in your life. Practice minimalism.

6. Everyone is human.
The truth is that people make mistakes. You yourself will make hundreds of mistakes in your lifetime. No person is perfect and when you truly practice love, you will accept all people—flaws & all.

We’re all human. Make it your practice to treat every person you come across with kindness, love, and respect. Your own life will become infinitely brighter as a result of your generosity.

7. See the good in people and help them.
Take kindness a step further. Go out of your way to help people. Volunteer at a soup kitchen. Help your elderly neighbor carry in groceries. Read the newspaper at your local nursing home. What you will find is that the more you give, the more you receive. There is infinite beauty in every human soul. If you take the time to give of yourself, you will see that beauty reflected in your own life tenfold.

8. Persist.
Like Samuel Beckett said, “Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try Again. Fail again. Fail better.” Anything that is worth anything in this life takes work. When you endeavor to do great things, you will inevitably fall at least once. The key to your success will be getting back up. Every. Single. Time. Even when your back is breaking and tears are falling. When you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on.

Persist, push forward, and don’t ever give up (even if that means trying something else). If you do these things you will succeed.

9. Be congruent, be authentic, be true to yourself.
To be congruent, you must ensure that your thoughts are aligned with your words and your words are aligned with your actions. Do what you say. To be authentic, you must be real. Never be a fake. Remember that it is better to be hated for what you are than to be loved for what you are not. And finally, to be true to yourself, you must follow your heart. It is wonderful to have friends, fans, and followers, but at the end of the day you have to lay your head down on the pillow and feel good about you.

10. Continue to grow and evolve.
Life is a journey and on your path you will transform over & over again. Keep an open mind. Embrace change. Remember that possibilities & opportunities are endless. Never stop learning. Never stop growing. And never stop evolving.

Love the list. It all goes back to the one truth I always stick with through the turmoil of the journey and that is that being selfishly selfless is the best way to better the world. Since we are the world, and the universe, the best way to change the world is the change our self for the better constantly. The most selfish thing one could want for themselves is to be free from suffering, and it’s also what the world needs to be free from the most. Glad your continuing to better yourself and the world Dena!

How are you doing lovely? Would love to hear some more about what’s happening in your world.

@ Brandon – The best way to change the world is the change our self for the better constantly. I absolutely love this idea, Brandon! It has been so wonderful to watch your journey unfold – a true & beautiful inspiration.

My world has been relatively quiet as of late. Seeking peace. I should be posting some more substantial updates soon. Happy 2011, my friend! Keep creating positive change — you are amazing.